Vol. 2, No. 18

Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 10:55:38 -0400 (EDT)

Contrabass-list Digest Volume 97 : Issue 18

Today's Topics:

• Ophicleide
• Paul Cohen's contrabass sax
• EDITOR'S NOTE:
• ORSI contrabass clarinet reeds
• Editor's Reminder
• cimbasso picture

Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 13:29:07 -0400
From: "Erik Midtskogen" <erik@firmsupport.com>
To: contrabass-list@contrabass.com
Subject: Ophicleide

Hello Fellow Musicians,

As an organist, I often play on ranks whos stops are dubbed with all sorts of names of the instruments on whose voice they are supposedly based. Many of the most curious of these are reed organ voices, which tend to imitate woodwind and brass instruments.

One instrument I am particularly curious about is the Ophicleide. As implemented on the organ this voice is usually heard at the 16' and 32' registers, and occasionally at the 8' register, and always has an extremely penetrating timbre--there is never any question over whether the Ophicleide of a large organ is pulled. A good example is at the Cadet Chapel of West Point Military Academy, where the stentorian 32' Contra Ophicleide (alias "The Awful-Cleide") is rarely pulled except at the end of big recitals, because its seismic effects usually knock many of the other 20,000-odd pipes out of tune. Its effect is truly awesome. I played on it once, and I was afraid I was going to damage the building if I hit a wrong note!

I understand this instrument was popular in the mid-nineteenth century. It's name is somehow derived from the root word for "serpant" in Greek, am I right? I have never heard a real one, and am curious if they ever get played any more. Are there any recordings made, or are there any events that occur in the NYC area that might be likely to feature one? Does anyone on the contrabass listserve have or play one?

Just curious, thanks!

Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 11:00:29 -0700
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To: contrabass-list@contrabass.com
Subject: Paul Cohen's contrabass sax

Say Paul,

Any news on the release date for your CD?

I think I'll go buy a subwoofer ;-)

Grant

Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 11:00:26 -0700
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To: contrabass-list@contrabass.com
Subject: EDITOR'S NOTE:

Actually, I'm not sure that "Editor" really describes me now ;-) I'm still tinkering with the setup and the distribution list. I hope that I've added everyone who wanted to subscribe.

1. Bursting:
   Mike pointed out that his digest is now coming in multiple parts: apparently some email applications will "burst" a digest into its constituent posts. If this is happening to you (and you don't like it that way), there is probably a setting in your configuration to undo the bursting. At least some of us (well, me for sure) receive the digest as a single document.
2. Intros:
   A disadvantage of the automatic process is that (at least theoretically) subscribers get added automatically, and since I'm not generating the digests by hand, I don't get to welcome them. Please consider this my WELCOME ABOARD, and please feel free to post an introduction to the list (some of us like to know who we're talking to).

Grant

Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 12:59:54 -0700
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To: contrabass-list@contrabass.com
Subject: ORSI contrabass clarinet reeds

I'm forwarding this post from Paul to the list:

*********************************************

Grant et al.,

My netbuddy, Steve Goodson, the "Saxgourmet" of New Orleans, is in need of some help. He wants to find reeds for the Orsi contrabass clarinet and says Vandorens aren't working out for him because of their size. Here's his email to me:

(quote...)

Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 15:36:34 -0700
From: Steve Goodson <steveg@popalex1.linknet.net> Organization:
http://www.saxgourmet.com
To: paulwl@gannett.infi.net

I own an Orsi contrabass clarinet, and I have been searching for a proper reed for some time. To my knowlege, the Vandoren contrabass reed is the largest available, and it is about 10% too narrow and 40% too short! Prestini originally made the reeds for this instrument, but destroyed the tooling about 10 years ago. None of the reed manufacturers (Vanoren, Rico, Prestini etc) have blanks large enough too fit this monster. A standard Selmer or LeBlanc mouthpiece won't work because the bocal is about 2 1/4 inches in diameter! Any ideas?

(...unquote.)

I'm sure Steve will appreciate any help!

--

Paul Lindemeyer (paulwl@gannett.infi.net)
_______________________________________________________
CELEBRATING THE SAXOPHONE: An Illustrated History
At your local bookseller from William Morrow & Co.

Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 13:02:02 -0700
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To: contrabass-list@contrabass.com
Subject: Editor's Reminder

Just a quick reminder:

Messages intended for the contrabass-digest list should be sent to:

If you want to correspond privately, you can still send me email at gdgreen@contrabass.com .

Grant

Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 10:55:56 -0400
From: "Daryl Fletcher" <daryl@www.walker.public.lib.ga.us>
To: <contrabass-list@contrabass.com>
Subject: cimbasso picture

Those who also read tubaeuph have probably seen this already, but there's a picture of a cimbasso at http://www.smh.com.au/daily/archive/960802/national/960802-national3.html

This is the only picture of one that I'm aware of on the net.

--------------------

mailto: daryl@www.walker.public.lib.ga.us
http://www.walker.public.lib.ga.us/~daryl/

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